Ch. 3: Lament of a soul

As the goblin's expression began to fade and was replaced by a face full of despair, something seemed to change within his small brain. That hesitation and fear of who he was caused an emotion to begin forming inside him—it was like a pleasure he had forgotten existed but had once tasted before. At that moment, Mr. Status began speaking to him.

You have remembered a bit of your past. Continue experiencing this feeling, and you might become stronger.

Skill remembered: Lament of Souls (unique skill)

Effect: You love the lament of souls; Souls can be delicious as a Brain. Devour a soul you have tormented can buff your physical body.

Secondary Skill:

Fear: An illusion is implanted in the target.

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Goblin POV

I know only a few things about demons, and it was supposed to be impossible for me to encounter one on this continent, which is surrounded by mana from the heavens that weakens demons. Each demon is a unique being; there are extremely few, and they are born from the accumulation of the emotions and feelings of intelligent beings. I’ve been a wanderer for many years, so I’d better not jump to conclusions until I'm sure. What are the chances of a demon actually being in a place like this? I need to calm down.

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I a goblin... My name is Kodoku

The voice sounded again in my mind as I forced my heart to calm. The strange thing was that the voice seemed... excited?

I want you Fear, Sir. Goblin.

My heart was pounding wildly, and cold sweat dripped down my forehead. I tried to make sense of the situation, but then I noticed something even more terrifying—a thick, unnatural smoke began to form around me. From within the smoke, a giant being emerged. He had horns all over his head and a malevolent smile that tore his own face and deformed it. That smile had a bad meaning for me.

My body started shaking uncontrollably. Tears of pure despair streamed down my face, and I found myself silently begging for some kind of divine intervention. But there was nothing—only the overwhelming sense of dread that weighed down on me like the crushing depths of an ocean. I couldn’t move; I couldn’t think; all I could do was stare at the ground, biting my lips so hard I tasted blood.

Finally, as I reached my breaking point, my body collapsed to the ground. But it wasn’t fear that had done it—something had pierced straight into my brain.

The last emotion I felt before death consumed me was raw, primal fear. After all these years of wandering, had I never truly escaped the terror I knew as a child?

I'm sorry for dying without being able to return to the village... father.